Tweet gleanings

[Wormwood]

The problem with conditions is that you had too many flying around in a round, you were juggling and tracking them a lot (that, and the implications of daze/stun and how it utterly defangs solos etc).

If I could play D&D again *without* a box full of magnetic discs and plastic condition counters, I'd be a happy Wormwood.

 

[Ichneumon]

That was rather fascinating.

D&D 5E Info is about to run red.

 

[Wormwood]

ps. I hope nobody minded me spamming. I tried to post only parts most relevant to recent discussions on these boards.

 

[ferratus]

I'm generally pleased with everything I heard today. Magical items being decoupled from expected character advancement is the best news.

The continued use of feats is the one I consider the worst news. If you use them, you can say goodbye to speedy character creation. If you don't use them, I only hope that the default abilities are generic and flexible enough to hold all the archetypes X class could have. I've felt for a long time that the "customization" of feats was largely illusionary, with most feats simply being exceptions to rules that shouldn't have been made in the first place.

 

[Wormwood]

The continued use of feats is the one I consider the worst news. If you use them, you can say goodbye to speedy character creation.

Yeah, that was one of the 3e/4e bits I could have done without (for the reasons you stated).

That said, provided the feats were fewer, more focused on sheer customization, and less frequently obtained, I could be on board.

The last thing I want to see are the return of boring feats that give you a bonus to do things you would already do ("My fighter picked up Weapon Focus because he likes to hit things hard with a sword." Well of course he does. He's a ing fighter!)

 

[ferratus]

Ooh...

.[MENTION=6671448]Monte[/MENTION]JCook Fireball is a static 5d6. If you want more damage, you use a higher-level spell slot. Much more balancing.

That's pretty good news too. Damage based on level is much better than damage based on spell.

 

[Agamon]

ps. I hope nobody minded me spamming. I tried to post only parts most relevant to recent discussions on these boards.

I had to stop, too, when I realized that this thing was an information explosion. Russ will have the transcript up soon, I assume.

 

[Rechan]

The last thing I want to see are the return of boring feats that give you a bonus to do things you would already do ("My fighter picked up Weapon Focus because he likes to hit things hard with a sword." Well of course he does. He's a ing fighter!)

Aye. And like how every book has new feats. So you have to comb through a lot of material.

Feats that give new/alternate abilities are interesting. Things that give static bonuses are not.

 

[SKyOdin]

I for one am actually nervous about the idea of trading in lower-level spells or powers for higher-level ones. Having to trade in low level powers in 4E was one of my bigger complaints about the system. It means that it is much more difficult to maintain continuity of a character's themes and specialties. What was once a signature move of your character gets replaced by completely unrelated new moves.

While the huge number of low-level spells wizards from 1-3e had were problematic, I'm not sure that eliminating lower-level slots once you reach higher levels will be a good idea. A complete overhaul of the spell slot system might have allowed for a better solution.

Right now, my biggest fear about 5E is that it might not be open enough to new ideas, and building upon the advancements and strengths of 3E and 4E. I'm afraid they might lean too close to rehashing old mechanics in order to please purists, and as a result alienate those who prefer newer style mechanics.

 

[Sammael]

The good stuff:

Different levels of complexity for different classes
No more power sources
No more roles, either (not specifically spelled out but implied from context)
Magic items decoupled from character advancement (no more Christmas tree effect! yay!)
Return of Vancian casting
Different classes shine at different things
3E style multiclassing
Rituals

The bad stuff:

WAY too many classes
Spell power decoupled from character power
Status effects not standardized
Trading-in low level abilities for high level ones

Overall, 5E sounds like a natural progression of 3E rather than 4E. Which is a good thing in my book.